Air cleaner and muffler



Feb. 28, 1933. I H. e. KAMRATH AIR CLEANER AND MUFFLER Filed Nov. 30, 1928 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES HERBERT G. KAMRATH, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN Am 0141111111113 AND MUFFLER Application filed November 30, 1928. Serial No. 322,849.

This invention relates to a combined air cleaner and mufiier for use on the air intake of the carburetor of an internal combustion engine.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device adapted to be connected to the an intake of the carburetor of an internal combustion engine and which when so installed will function both to clean the air drawn into the carburetor and engine cylinders by the suction of the engine and to mufile the socalled carburetor noises.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification and the accompanying drawlng wherein there is described and shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combined air cleaner and mufiler in which is embodied my invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the device shown in the preceding figures.

My combined air cleaner and-muflier, as shown in the drawing includes a cylindrical shell 10 in one side 0 which isprovided an air intake opening 11 which extends from a point adjacent one end of the shell to a point adjacent the opposite end thereof. Located within and substantiallycoextensive in length with the shell 10 is a curved wall 12 which extends circumferentially of the shell from a point adjacent one side of the air intake open ing 11 to a point beyond and substantially diametrically opposite the other side thereof and which is provided on its opposite side edges with turned-out portions 13 and 14, respectively, which are secured to the side wall of the shell 10 at points adjacent the opposite side edges of the wall 12. Between the air intake opening 11 and the turned-out portion 14, through which extends an air discharge opening 15 substantially coextensive in length with the air intake opening 11, the wall 12 is spaced from the side wall of the ends of the curved wall 12 and the baflle plate the trough formed by the baflie plate 17 and shell 10 to provide a parti-annular passage 16 which decreases in cross-sectional area from a point adjacent the air intake opening 11 to a point adjacent the air discharge opening 15.

Intermediate the turned-out portions of the wall 12, there is provided a bafile plate 17, which is substantially coextensive in length with the shell 10, and which is secured at its outer edge to and extends radially inwardly from the side wall of the shell.

The opposite ends of the shell 10 are closed by heads 18 and 19, respectively, which are suitably secured to the ends of the shell and which may also, if desired, be secured to the 17. Through the head 19 and into the interior of the shell 10 extends an air discharge conduit 20 which is suitably secured to the head. Within the inner end of the conduit 20 and extending therebeyond into the interior of the shell 10 is secured an airstraightener blade 21. In the side wall of the shell 10, adjacent and on the side of the baflle plate 17 distant from the air intake opening 11, and between the inner end of the air discharge conduit- 20 and the head 19, there is provided a tangential dirt discharge opening 22.

My combined air cleaner and mufller is adapted to be installed with the air discharge. conduit 20 in communication with the air intake conduit of the carburetor of an internal combustion engine. When so installed and the engine is operating, the suction produced in the engine cylinders draws air through the air intake opening 11 and into the passage 16 through which it passes with increasing Velocity to the air discharge opening 15. After passing through the opening 15, the air impinges against the baflie plate 17 which 90 causes it suddenly to change its direction of travel and to flow inwardly toward the axis of the shell. Due to its greater momentum the foreign matter in the air, which has already been forced, to the outer side of the current by centrifugal action, is not able to change its direction of travelas quickly as the air and instead of passing with the air toward the axis of the shell is deposited in the side wall of the shell. The clean air from the axial portion of the shell is drawn by the engine suction into and through the air discharge conduit 20, during its passage through which the air-straightener blade 21 acts on it to eliminate eddy currents and smooth its flow, and thence into the carburetor a and engine cylinders. It will be obvious that, since the air within the shell 10 has a component of movement axially of the shell toward the air discharge conduit 20, as well as a component of the shell, the foreign matter deposited in the trough formed by the baffle plate 17 and the side wall of the shell will be swept toward the dirt discharge opening 22 and discharged therethrongh into the atmosphere. The portion of the air discharge conduit 20 which projects into the interior of the shell 10 prevents any foreign matter which may collect around the dirt discharge opening 22 from returning to the axial portion of the shell and contaminating the clean air.

The sound waves generated in the intake manifold and the carburetor of an internal combustion engine and which pass through the carburetor air intake into the atmosphere are the cause of the so-called carburetor noises in the engine. As they issue from the air intake of the carburetor, these sound waves are travelling in a direction parallel to the axis thereof. Since in my combined air cleaner and mufier, the air intake open ing is located in a side wall parallel to the direction of travel of thesound waves issuing from the air intake of the carburetor, there is no opening in the path of the travel of the sound waves through which they may pass into the atmosphere and consequently the carburetor noises will be muffled." The fact that the direction of travel of the air as it enters and passes through the device and that the disposition and arrangement of the curved wall 12 and the baffle plate 17 are such as to hinder the transmission of the sound waves to the atmosphere through the air intake opening increases the eficiency of my combined air cleaner and blower in muflling the carburetor noises.

To further aid in eliminating the carburetor noises, there may be provided an .ex-

pansion chamberor a resonance chamber 23 in communication with the interior of the air discharge conduit 20 to eliminate the pulsations in the current of air flowing into the carburetor and .to cause interference between the sound waves issuing from the carburetor air intake.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my inventiomit is to be understood that this has been done merely by way of example and that the scope of my invention is defined only by the appended claims.

its opposite of movement around the axis ll claim: I

1. In a device of the class described, a cylindrical shell having in a side wall thereof an air intake opening, a curved wall secured at ends to the side wall of the shell so as to form therewith a parti-annular passage which communicates atits opposite ends with the air intake opening and the interior of the shell, a baflle plate secured to the side wall of the. shell between the ends of the curved wall and extending radially inwardly therefrom, a dust discharge opening in the side wall of the shell, and means'to conduct clean air'from the interior of the shell.

2. In a device of, the class described, a cylindrical shell having in a side wall thereof an air intake opening, a curved wall formin with the side wall of the shell a parti-annu ar passage which communicates at its opposite ends with the air intake opening and the interior of the shell, a bafile plate within the shell in the path of the air discharged from the passage, an air discharge conduit opening axially into one end of the shell, and a tangential dirt discharge opening in the side wall of the shell adjacent the air discharge conduit and the bafie plate.

3. In a deviceof the class described, a cylindrical shell having in a side wall thereof an air intake opening, a curved wall forming with the side wall of the shell a parti-annular passage whichcommunicates at its opposite ends with the air intake opening and the interior of the shell, a bafie plate within the shell in the path of the air discharged from the passage, an air discharge conduit opening axially and extending into the interior of the shell, and a tangential dirt discharge opening in a side wall of the shell outward of the inner end of. the air discharge conduit and adjacent the bame plate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERBERT Gr. MTH. 

